MONDAY, MARCH 3, 2025 3:07 P.M.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE HOUSE WILL

COME TO ORDER.

GOOD AFTERNOON, COLLEAGUES.

IN THE ABSENCE OF CLERGY, LET US PAUSE FOR A MOMENT OF

SILENCE.

(WHEREUPON, A MOMENT OF SILENCE WAS OBSERVED.)

VISITORS ARE INVITED TO JOIN THE MEMBERS IN THE PLEDGE

OF ALLEGIANCE.

(WHEREUPON, ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER LED VISITORS AND

MEMBERS IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.)

A QUORUM BEING PRESENT, THE CLERK WILL READ THE

JOURNAL OF FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: MS. SPEAKER, I MOVE TO

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

DISPENSE WITH THE FURTHER READING OF THE JOURNAL OF FRIDAY, FEBRUARY

THE 28TH AND THAT THE SAME STAND APPROVED.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WITHOUT OBJECTION,

SO ORDERED.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU, MA'AM. FOR

COLLEAGUES AND GUESTS THAT ARE IN OUR CHAMBERS THIS AFTERNOON, I WOULD

LIKE TO SHARE THIS QUOTE WITH YOU. THIS ONE IS COMING FROM AYESHA

SIDDIQI. SHE IS A SCIENTIST, A POLITICAL COMMENTATOR, AND AN AUTHOR WHO

ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN. HER WORDS FOR US TODAY, "BE THE PERSON YOU

NEEDED WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER." AGAIN, THESE WORDS FROM AYESHA

SIDDIQI.

MADAM SPEAKER, MEMBERS HAVE ON THEIR DESK A MAIN

CALENDAR. IT HAS 25 NEW BILLS IN IT, AND WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN OUR FLOOR

WORK TODAY BY TAKING UP CALENDAR RESOLUTIONS ON PAGE 3. THEN WE

WILL TAKE UP THE FOLLOWING BILLS ON DEBATE, KIND OF SORT OF WHERE WE LEFT

OFF LAST WEEK: RULES REPORT NO. 71 BY MR. EPSTEIN; RULES REPORT NO.

77 BY MR. JACOBSON; AND RULES REPORT NO. 87 BY MR. O'PHARROW. WE

WILL ALSO BEGIN CONSENTING THE 25 BILLS THAT ARE ON OUR -- THE NEW BILLS,

RATHER, AND THEY ARE ON PAGE 4. MAJORITY MEMBERS SHOULD BE AWARE

THAT THERE WILL DEFINITELY BE A NEED FOR A CONFERENCE ONCE WE CONCLUDE

OUR FLOOR WORK TODAY AND, AS ALWAYS, WE WILL CHECK WITH OUR

COLLEAGUES TO DETERMINE WHAT THEIR NEEDS MAY BE. MEMBERS SHOULD

ALSO BE AWARE THAT AT THE CONCLUSION OF SESSION ON TOMORROW, WE WILL

BE TAKING UP A PRIVILEGED RESOLUTION AND HAVING A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN

HONOR OF DR. HAZEL DUKES, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE NAACP. I

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

WILL ANNOUNCE FURTHER FLOOR ACTIVITY IF THAT'S -- IF IT'S GOING TO BE

NECESSARY.

MADAM SPEAKER, WITH THAT, IT'S HOWEVER A GENERAL

OUTLINE OF WHERE WE'RE GOING TODAY. WE SHOULD BEGIN BY TAKING UP

HOUSEKEEPING AND INTRODUCTIONS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU, MRS.

PEOPLES-STOKES.

MRS. PEOPLES-STOKES: THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WE HAVE NO

HOUSEKEEPING TODAY SO WE'LL GO STRAIGHT INTO INTRODUCTIONS.

MR. ANDERSON FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. ANDERSON: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER;

GOOD AFTERNOON, COLLEAGUES. IT'S A REALLY EXCITING DAY HERE IN THE

STATE'S CAPITOL AS WE CELEBRATE AND COMMEMORATE BRING YOUR PARENTS

TO WORK DAY. I HAVE MY PARENTS JOINING US HERE FOR OUR PROCEEDINGS.

MY FATHER, (INAUDIBLE) BILITY, WHO SERVED AS A HEALTH CARE WORKER IN

1199 UNION AT THE ST. VINCENT'S HOSPITAL. ALSO MY MOTHER, WHO

SERVED AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER AND AN ACTIVIST, AS WELL AS A PARENT

ACTIVIST IN OUR COMMUNITIES. AND SO I BROUGHT THEM UP TO ALBANY

TODAY. I'M EXCITED TO HAVE THEM JOIN US HERE IN THE CHAMBER AND I WILL

ASK THAT YOU EXTEND THE CORDIALITIES OF THE FLOOR TO MY PARENTS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

ON BEHALF OF MR. ANDERSON, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE

MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU FAMILY MEMBERS TO THE CHAMBER AND

EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR SHARING

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

YOUR SON WITH US. WE DO TRULY ENJOY HIM, HE HAS MANY BILLS HE LIKES TO

TELL US ABOUT, AND HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PROCEEDINGS TODAY. THANK YOU

SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

(APPLAUSE)

MS. CHANDLER-WATERMAN FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN

INTRODUCTION.

MS. CHANDLER-WATERMAN: THANK YOU, MR.

[SIC] SPEAKER, AND THANK YOU -- THANK YOU MAJORITY LEADER FOR

ALLOWING ME THE HONOR TO INTRODUCE THIS AMAZING WOMAN FROM YOUR

DISTRICT IN BUFFALO, CARIOL HORNE, AS WE KICK OFF WOMEN'S HISTORY

MONTH. CARIOL HORNE IS A FORMER POLICE OFFICER FROM BUFFALO POLICE

DEPARTMENT. WE THANK INDIVIDUALS LIKE CARIOL HORNE WHO ARE BRAVE

AND CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. THANK YOU TO

CARIOL HORNE. BECAUSE OF YOU, WE HAVE HOPE. PLEASE, I ASK THAT YOU

EXTEND THE CORDIALITIES OF THE FLOOR TO MS. HORNE TODAY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON BEHALF OF MS.

CHANDLER-WATERMAN, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME

YOU, MS. HORNE, TO THE CHAMBER, EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR,

HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR

JOINING US.

(APPLAUSE)

MS. JACKSON FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MS. JACKSON: WELL, THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

TODAY IS OUR SECOND ANNUAL BRING YOUR PARENTS TO WORK DAY, AND IT'S

AN IMPORTANT DAY FOR US AND OUR PARENTS BECAUSE WE WOULD NOT BE HERE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

IF IT WAS NOT FOR THEM. SO WE WANTED THE PARENTS TO COME TODAY JUST TO

SEE WHAT IT IS THAT WE DO AROUND THIS THING WE CALL THE ASSEMBLY. AND

SO WHILE WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PARENTS HERE FOR OUR ASSEMBLYMEMBERS,

WE ALSO HAVE OUR STAFF THAT PARTICIPATED, AS WELL, AND I JUST WANT THEM

TO ALL JUST STAND UP AND WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE THEM FROM THE FLOOR. BUT

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT OUR FAMILY KNOW WHAT WE DO BECAUSE WE ARE PULLED

AWAY FROM THEM FOR FOUR DAYS OUT OF THE WEEK SOMETIMES, OR EVEN

LONGER, AND WE'RE DOING THE PEOPLE'S WORK. AND I KNOW THAT THEY'RE

PROUD OF US, BUT NOW THEY REALLY GET TO SEE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A

MEMBER. SO TO THE STAFF AND TO THE MEMBERS, MADAM SPEAKER, I ASK

THAT YOU GIVE ALL THE PARENTS IN THE HOUSE THE CORDIALITY OF THE FLOOR.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

ON BEHALF OF MS. CHANTEL JACKSON, THE SPEAKER AND

ALL THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU FAMILY MEMBERS TO THE CHAMBER,

EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING

US AND ALLOWING US TO USE YOUR FAMILY IN VERY POSITIVE WAYS. THANK

YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. JONES FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. JONES: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. AND

WITH US TODAY I HAVE GEANA DYER WHO IS A NURSE BY TRADE AND THE

MOTHER OF RONIN RIGHT OVER THERE - RONIN IS MAKING HIS WAY AROUND THE

ASSEMBLY CHAMBERS HERE EARLIER. RONIN WAS DIAGNOSED WITH

COCKAYNE SYNDROME TYPE 2 IN SEPTEMBER OF 2022. COCKAYNE

SYNDROME IS A RARE GENETIC NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDER THAT AFFECTS THE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

WAY CELLS GROW AND REPAIR THEMSELVES, AND CAN IMPACT ANY BODY PART.

INDIVIDUALS WITH CS MAY HAVE SYMPTOMS SUCH AS RAPID AGING, HEARING

AND VISION LOSS, SPEECH IMMOBILITY IMPAIRMENT, AND DIFFICULTIES WITH

SWALLOWING. CHILDREN WITH CS FACE ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES, AS WELL, BUT

ARE ALSO RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR UNIQUELY JOVIAL AND JOYFUL DEMEANOR.

AFTER RONIN'S DIAGNOSIS, GEANA DID WHAT NURSES DO

BEST, AND STARTED SEARCHING FOR RESOURCES AND TREATMENT OPTIONS THAT

COULD HELP THOSE LIVING WITH COCKAYNE SYNDROME. MANY FAMILIES

AFFECTED BY CS EXPERIENCE IMMENSE FINANCIAL BURDENS DUE TO THE HIGH

COST OF ADAPTIVE SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT, MEDICAL TRAVEL, HOME AND

VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS, AND THERAPIES SUCH AS PHYSICAL, OCCUPATION,

SPEECH, AQUATIC, AND HIPPOTHERAPY, WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL FOR SYMPTOM

MANAGEMENT, BUT OFTEN INSURANCE DOES NOT COVER IT. THEIR WORK

FOCUSES ON GETTING PRODUCTS AND SUPPLIES THAT THEY NEED NOW, STARTING

WITH EVERYDAY ITEMS SUCH AS UMBRELLAS AND SUNBLOCK AND, EVENTUALLY,

CS FAMILIES, THEY WANT TO SEE HAVE BIG TICKET ITEMS LIKE HOME AND

VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS FOR WHEELCHAIRS AND PAID MEDICAL TRAVEL

EXPENSES.

GEANA WAS INSPIRED BY THIS AND SHE STARTED ONE OF THE

FIRST IN THE NATION COCKAYNE SYNDROME FOUNDATIONS. RAISING

AWARENESS FOR COCKAYNE SYNDROME IS CRITICAL TO SUPPORTING RESEARCH,

IMPROVING ACCESS TO CARE, AND FOSTERING AND UNDERSTANDING AND

COMPASSION FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY THIS DEVASTATING DISORDER. WITH US

TODAY ARE GEANA AND RONIN DYER, GRANDMA VICKI BRASSARD, JUSTUS

BRASSARD AND KATHY RYAN. MADAM SPEAKER, WOULD YOU WELCOME

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

THESE FINE PEOPLE TO THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE AND GIVE THEM ALL THE

COURTESIES AND CORDIALITIES OF THE FLOOR IN THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: YES.

ON BEHALF OF MR. JONES, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE

MEMBERS - HI, RONIN, HOW ARE YOU - WE WELCOME YOU TO THE CHAMBER,

EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR, AND HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR PROCEEDINGS

TODAY. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

(APPLAUSE)

MS. CRUZ FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MS. CRUZ: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, FOR THE

OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE RACHEL SABELLA, SHE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

OF NO KID HUNGRY NEW YORK. RACHEL HAS BEEN LEADING THE EFFORTS TO

END CHILD HUNGER BY EXPANDING SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAMS AND CONNECTING

CHILDREN TO EFFECTIVE NUTRITION. SHE'S DONE EXTENSIVE WORK IN MY

DISTRICT AND WE'RE ACTUALLY CURRENTLY WORKING ON MY LITTLE DREAM WHICH

IS TO HAVE A PANTRY RIGHT OUT OF MY DISTRICT. SHE HAS BEEN A RELENTLESS

ADVOCATE TO ENSURE THAT NO CHILD STARTS A SCHOOL DAY HUNGRY,

EMPHASIZING THE NEED FOR BOTH STRONG POLICIES AND DEDICATION OF

FRONTLINE WORKERS. SHE'S A LIFE-LONG NEW YORKER AND SHE'S BEEN

INSPIRED BY HER GRANDMOTHER WHO SERVED AS A CAFETERIA MANAGER IN A

PUBLIC SCHOOL IN NEW YORK CITY, AND HER MOTHER, A KINDERGARTEN

TEACHER WHO INSTILLED IN HER A DEEP, PERSONAL COMMITMENT TO FEEDING

CHILDREN. SHE HOLDS AN UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND A

MASTER IN ARTS FROM THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL PUBLIC POLICY FROM SUNY

EMPIRE STATE COLLEGE.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

SHE HAS -- UNDER HER LEADERSHIP NO KID HUNGRY NEW

YORK HAS DISTRIBUTED OVER $2.5 MILLION IN FOOD DURING THE COVID-19

PANDEMIC. SHE'S BEEN CRITICAL -- HER SUPPORT HAS BEEN CRITICAL TO THE

WORK THAT WE DO HERE IN SUPPORTING SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY

ORGANIZATIONS IN FEEDING OUR CHILDREN. SHE'S BEEN RECOGNIZED AND

SUPPORTS THE HUNGER HEROES, INDIVIDUALS MAKING A DIRECT IMPACT

FEEDING CHILDREN ACROSS THE STATE, AND HER WORK HAS BEEN INTEGRAL TO -

AND I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO MY COLLEAGUE, JESSICA

GONZÁLEZ-ROJAS, FOR THE WORK THAT SHE'S DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY

CHILD GETS TWO MEALS AT OUR SCHOOLS EVERY DAY.

PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME, MADAM SPEAKER, MS.

SABELLA, AND EXTEND THE CORDIALITIES OF THE HOUSE TO HER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON BEHALF OF MS.

CRUZ, THE SPEAKER AND ALL MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU, MS. SABELLA, TO

THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE. WE EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR. THANK YOU

FOR DOING THE WONDERFUL WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, NO KID SHOULD BE

HUNGRY AT SCHOOL. WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AND THANK

YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

(APPLAUSE)

MS. WALKER FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MS. WALKER: GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM SPEAKER,

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PAUSING IN OUR DELIBERATIONS TODAY TO ALLOW

ME TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO WELCOME SOME GUESTS FROM MY DISTRICT.

THEY REPRESENT THE LEADERSHIP OF THE BMS FAMILY HEALTH AND WELLNESS

CENTERS, BETTER KNOWN AS BMS. BMS SERVES MORE THAN 17,000

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

RESIDENTS IN EAST AND CENTRAL BROOKLYN, INCLUDING BEAUTIFUL

BROWNSVILLE WHERE I WAS BORN AND RAISED. COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE

CENTERS LIKE BMS, WHICH STARTED UNDER THE TUTELAGE OF THE BROWNSVILLE

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, REALLY SIT ON THE FRONT LINES

ACROSS THE STATE. THEY HAVE THE MOST EXPERIENCE WITH COMMUNITY

OUTREACH AND CAN REALLY AFFECT COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH CARE OUTCOMES.

THEY ARE OFTEN AWARE OF HEALTH TRENDS BEFORE INFORMATION REACHES

TRADITIONAL HEALTH CARE NETWORKS OR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

THE BMS FAMILY HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER

FOCUSES ON DISEASE PREVENTION AND EMPOWERED OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH

EDUCATION, COORDINATION, AND ADVOCACY. BMS HAS BEEN A STAPLE IN MY

COMMUNITY SINCE 1982 AND IS ALSO THE PLACE WHERE I RECEIVED MY

IMMUNIZATION SHOTS WHEN IT WAS ESTABLISHED AS A FEDERALLY-QUALIFIED

HEALTH CARE FACILITY. THOUGH ITS ROOTS GO BACK AS FAR AS THE 1960S, THE

SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE IS REGARDLESS OF ONE'S ABILITY TO PAY,

IMMIGRATION STATUS, OR WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE INSURANCE.

TODAY, ABOUT TWO DOZEN PEOPLE BOARDED A BUS FROM

BROOKLYN TO ALBANY TO DISCUSS THE POSITIVE IMPACTS ON HEALTH CARE

OUTCOMES AND HEALTH CARE JUSTICE. I WILL NOT NAME EVERYONE, BUT I WANT

TO QUICKLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRESIDENT AND CEO, MICHELLE

EVERETT-OXLEY; ALLISON JONES, WHO RECENTLY RECEIVED THE COMMUNITY

HEALTH CARE AWARD HERE IN ALBANY, THE MANAGER OF CLIENT SERVICES; ALSO

RENEE MUIR, WHO IS THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT. THANK

YOU SO MUCH, MADAM SPEAKER, AND PLEASE WELCOME THEM TO THE FLOOR

AND EXTEND THE CORDIALITIES OF THE HOUSE.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: YES.

ON BEHALF OF MS. WALKER, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE

MEMBERS, BMS, WE WELCOME YOU TO THE CHAMBER, EXTEND THE

PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR, AND HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. FRIEND FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. FRIEND: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. IT IS MY

HONOR TO BE ABLE TO WELCOME MEMBERS OF THE OWEGO FFA TO OUR

HOUSE. IN THE HOUSE WITH US TODAY ARE MASON HILL, MARIANA SLOCUM,

JESSICA BAUMBACH, GRAYDEN STANTON, MIKAYLA WILBUR, MAHAYLA

WALSH, MARY COX, KAYLA COPPAGE, AND THEIR ADVISORS DEREK HILL AND

SUSAN ARMSTRONG. IT WAS MY PLEASURE TO BE ABLE TO MEET WITH THEM IN

MY OFFICE JUST A -- A SHORT TIME AGO AND BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF

THE GREAT ACTIVITIES THAT THEY'RE WORKING ON.

THEY'RE VERY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THEIR PROGRAM AND

CONTINUE TO MAKE IT GROW AND BRING IT EVEN INTO THE PRE-SCHOOL AND

KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS, K-6 WOULD BE PHENOMENAL FOR THEM TO EXTEND

THEIR PROGRAMS. THEY HAVE A 30X60 BARN ON SCHOOL PROPERTY WHERE

THEY HAVE GERBILS, HAMSTERS, CHICKENS, PIGS, COWS, GUINEA PIGS. THEY

ALSO DO WORK IN THEIR GREENHOUSE AND ALSO DO WORK WITH FLORAL

ARRANGING THAT HAS ENABLED SOME OF THOSE MEMBERS TO START THEIR OWN

BUSINESSES AND GO OUT AND GET A JOB. JUST RECENTLY, THE NEW YORK FFA

DISTRICT 7 LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT EVENTS WERE HOSTED BY THE OWEGO

FFA PROGRAM. THEY HAD OVER 250 STUDENTS THAT ATTENDED AND

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

COMPETED IN VARIOUS EVENTS THERE, AND OWEGO IS VERY FORTUNATE THAT

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE SIX MEMBERS QUALIFIED TO MOVE ON TO SUB-STATES.

WOULD YOU PLEASE WELCOME THEM TO THE FLOOR AND EXTEND THE

CORDIALITIES OF THE HOUSE. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: OF COURSE.

ON BEHALF OF MR. FRIEND, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE

MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU OWEGO FUTURE FARMERS. WE WELCOME YOU

TO THE CHAMBER, EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR, HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR

PROCEEDINGS TODAY. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. SIMPSON FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MR. SIMPSON: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. IT IS

MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE A GROUP OF MUSICIANS FROM THE 114TH ASSEMBLY

DISTRICT, WE ARE INSTRUMENTAL, WHOSE MISSION IS TO IMPROVE

ACCESSIBILITY TO MUSICAL EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN IN THE NORTHERN NEW

YORK BY PROVIDING WELL-WORKING INSTRUMENTS AND ENRICHMENT

OPPORTUNITIES, WHILE SUPPORTING EFFORTS THROUGH RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL

DEVELOPMENT TRAINING FOR TEACHERS OF THE REGION.

WE'RE JOINED BY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER,

EVAN MACK; PRESIDENT MICHAEL ITURRINO; STUDENTS DEIRDRE KLEEMANN,

SHAELENE DEDRICK, KEIRRA BECHARD, QUINN LANG, AND IRELAN PORTER.

ADDITIONALLY, THE GROUP IS ACCOMPANIED BY LORI ORESTANO JAMES,

PRESIDENT OF NEW YORK STATE ALLIANCE OF ARTS EDUCATION. THEREFORE,

MADAM SPEAKER, COULD YOU PLEASE WELCOME THIS EXCELLENT GROUP TO THE

PEOPLE'S HOUSE AND EXTEND TO THEM THE CORDIALITIES AND PRIVILEGES OF

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

THE HOUSE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON BEHALF OF MR.

SIMPSON, THE SPEAKER AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU FOLKS

FROM TICONDEROGA TODAY TO THE CHAMBER, EXTEND THE PRIVILEGES OF THE

FLOOR, HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR PROCEEDINGS, AND THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH

FOR JOINING US TODAY.

(APPLAUSE)

RESOLUTIONS, PAGE 3, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 145, MS.

BARRETT.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM MARCH 2-8, 2025 AS SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER

WEEK IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE RESOLUTION,

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS

ADOPTED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 146, MS.

CRUZ.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM MARCH 3-7, 2025 AS SCHOOL BREAKFAST WEEK

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MS. CRUZ ON THE

RESOLUTION.

MS. CRUZ: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, FOR

ALLOWING ME TO BRING THIS RESOLUTION TO THE FLOOR. I RISE TODAY TO

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

INTRODUCE THIS RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL TO

PROCLAIM MARCH 7 -- 3-7TH, 2025 AS SCHOOL BREAKFAST WEEK IN THE

STATE OF NEW YORK. SCHOOL BREAKFAST IS MORE THAN JUST A MEAL. IT IS

ESSENTIAL TO COMBATTING CHILD HUNGER AND ENHANCING ACADEMIC SUCCESS.

IN 2024, OVER 152 MILLION SCHOOL BREAKFASTS WERE SERVED ACROSS NEW

YORK, BENEFITTING MORE THAN 876,000 STUDENTS. AND AS YOU'VE OFTEN

HEARD FROM OUR COLLEAGUES, JESSICA GONZÁLEZ-ROJAS, IT IS KEY TO

ENSURING THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE DOING WELL IN SCHOOL. IT IS WHY SHE'S

FIGHTING THE FIGHT THAT SHE'S FIGHTING TO MAKE SURE THAT IN THIS BUDGET,

EVERY CHILD IS LEARNING WITHOUT FEELING HUNGRY.

I WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR -- OUR PRIOR INTRODUCTION AND

THE WORK THAT SHE'S DOING, AND TO ASK OUR COLLEAGUES TO MAKE SURE THAT

WHEN WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THE BUDGET THIS YEAR, WE'RE REMEMBERING

NOT JUST THIS WEEK, BUT EVERY WEEK THAT EVERY CHILD WHO GOES TO SCHOOL

AS YOU SAID, MADAM SPEAKER, EARLIER, SHOULD NOT BE HUNGRY. THEY

SHOULD BE ABLE TO LEARN AND NOT BE HUNGRY; IT IS AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE RESOLUTION,

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS

ADOPTED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 147, MR.

LAVINE.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM MARCH 2025 AS READING MONTH IN THE STATE

OF NEW YORK.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. LAVINE ON THE

RESOLUTION.

MR. LAVINE: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. TO

QUOTE FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA FROM HIS 2005 REMARKS ON THE

IMPORTANCE OF LITERACY, QUOTE, READING IS THE GATEWAY SKILL THAT MAKES

ALL OTHER LEARNING POSSIBLE, UNQUOTE. READING IS A CRUCIAL SKILL THAT

ALLOWS A PERSON TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE EVER-CHANGING WORLD THAT

SURROUNDS US. PROFICIENT READING LEVELS LEAD TO A MULTITUDE OF POSITIVE

EFFECTS, ONE OF WHICH IS AN INCREASE IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. EDUCATED

READERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO VOTE AS THEY AGE AND BECOME INVOLVED IN OUR

COMMUNITIES, WHICH OBVIOUSLY PROMOTES A HEALTHIER DEMOCRACY.

UNFORTUNATELY, NOT EVERY NEW YORKER GETS THE

OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE THE BENEFITS OF READING. IN A STUDY DONE BY THE

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, IT WAS FOUND THAT AMAZINGLY 1-5 AMERICANS

POSSESS LOW LITERACY RATES. ON TOP OF THAT, READING SCORES IN 2024 WERE

NOT SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT -- SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT FROM THE SCORES IN

1998. OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO FACTOR IN THE EFFECTS OF THE COVID

EPIDEMIC WHEN WE ANALYZE THAT COMPARISON. STUDIES SHOW THAT 3.9

MILLION NEW YORKERS LACK A FUNCTIONAL LEVEL OF LITERACY. LACK OF

READING SKILLS LEADS TO ECONOMIC INSTABILITY, EVIDENCED BY THE FACT THAT

43 PERCENT OF ADULTS WITH THE LOWEST LITERARY RATES -- LITERACY RATES,

RATHER, LIVE IN POVERTY. READING'S A CRITICAL SKILL THAT BENEFITS THE LIVES

OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US. WE IN THIS LEGISLATURE MUST TURN AND WE

IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AS WELL, AND WE IN AMERICA MUST TURN OUR

ATTENTION TO INCREASING LITERACY RATES, WHETHER THAT BE THROUGH

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

SUPPORTING LOCAL LIBRARIES, BOOK DRIVES, OR CONTINUING EDUCATION

PROGRAMS. IN DOING SO, WE CAN ENSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE THE

SKILLS TO SUCCEED IN OUR WORLD.

I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, AND I WANT TO

THANK ALL MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THIS IMPORTANT RESOLUTION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

ON THE RESOLUTION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING

AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 148, MR.

RAGA.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM MARCH 2025 AS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

AWARENESS MONTH IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE RESOLUTION,

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS

ADOPTED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 149, MR.

JONES.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM OCTOBER 2025 AS COCKAYNE SYNDROME

AWARENESS MONTH IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. RA ON THE

RESOLUTION.

MR. RA: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. AS OUR

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

COLLEAGUE, MR. JONES, SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER IN HIS INTRODUCTION, THIS

RESOLUTION IS VERY IMPORTANT TO MANY, AND ESPECIALLY FAMILIES DEALING

WITH COCKAYNE SYNDROME. THIS IS A VERY RARE DISORDER, AFFECTING ONLY

ABOUT ONE IN EVERY TWO MILLION BIRTHS IN THE UNITED STATES, AND IT'S

COINCIDENCE, BUT MAYBE NOT COINCIDENCE, THAT WE ARE DOING THIS

RESOLUTION TODAY ON THE BIRTHDAY OF OUR FORMER COLLEAGUE, MISSY

MILLER. AND ANYBODY WHO WAS HERE WHEN MISSY WAS HERE WAS

FAMILIAR WITH HER SON, OLIVER, SHE USED TO BRING WITH HER, BUT ALSO

PROBABLY HEARD HER TALK ABOUT HER LATE DAUGHTER, MELANIE, WHO WAS

AFFLICTED WITH THIS DISORDER. MISSY HAD LOST MELANIE BACK IN 1997 JUST

TWO DAYS AFTER HER 7TH BIRTHDAY, AND MELANIE WAS ORIGINALLY DIAGNOSED

AT THE AGE OF THREE, AND THEN PROPERLY DIAGNOSED WITH COCKAYNE

SYNDROME AT THE AGE OF 5.

SO WE DO THESE THINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS, OBVIOUSLY,

IN THIS CHAMBER TO PROMOTE AWARENESS, BUT IT REALLY IS AN OPPORTUNITY

FOR US TO ALL LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT DISEASES, DISORDERS THAT WE MAY NOT

BE FAMILIAR WITH, AND HOPEFULLY MOVING FORWARD FIND WAYS TO WORK

WITH THOSE FAMILIES AND PROVIDE THEM THE RESOURCES THEY NEED AND

HOPEFULLY THE TREATMENTS THEY NEED TO -- TO ALLOW THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS

TO LIVE THE BEST LIVES POSSIBLE.

SO I THANK MY COLLEAGUE FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION

FORWARD, AND ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES FOR SUPPORTING IT, AND HAPPY

BIRTHDAY, MISSY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE RESOLUTION,

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

ADOPTED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 150, MS.

JACKSON.

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING GOVERNOR

KATHY HOCHUL TO PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 4TH, 2025 AS BRING YOUR PARENTS

TO WORK DAY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE RESOLUTION,

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTION IS

ADOPTED.

PAGE 10, RULES REPORT NO. 71, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: SENATE NO. S00810, RULES REPORT NO.

71, SENATOR MYRIE (EPSTEIN--A00438). AN ACT TO AMEND THE ELECTION

LAW, IN RELATION TO NOT INCLUDING THE PROCESS FOR DECLINING DESIGNATION

TO A COUNTY COMMITTEE PARTY POSITION IN THE NOTICE PROVIDED BY THE

BOARD OF ELECTIONS OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: AN EXPLANATION HAS

BEEN REQUESTED, MR. EPSTEIN.

MR. EPSTEIN: THIS REQUIRES THAT THE BOARD OF

ELECTIONS IN NEW YORK CITY SEND NOTICES TO PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING

FOR A COUNTY COMMITTEE THAT THEY'RE ON THE BALLOT.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. SLATER.

MR. SLATER: THANK YOU. WILL THE SPONSOR YIELD?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MR. EPSTEIN: OF COURSE.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MR. SLATER: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUST A COUPLE

OF QUESTIONS FOR CLARITY ON THIS, BECAUSE THIS BILL HAS BEEN AMENDED

SEVERAL TIMES, CORRECT?

MR. EPSTEIN: THAT IS TRUE.

MR. SLATER: THANK YOU. AND SO THE CHANGES

MADE IN THIS BILL COMPARED TO THE ONE THAT WE PASSED LAST YEAR, CAN YOU

JUST EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCES FOR US?

MR. EPSTEIN: SURE. THE CHAPTER AMENDMENT JUST

TAKES OUT THE REQUIREMENTS THAT -- THAT PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO RUN

CAN -- CAN DECIDE NOT TO ACCEPT THE NOMINATION FOR COUNTY COMMITTEE.

BECAUSE OF A SHORT TIME FRAME FOR WHEN THE PETITIONS ARE SUBMITTED TO

WHEN THEY'RE GETTING NOTICE, THERE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ENOUGH TIME FOR

PEOPLE TO DECIDE THEY DON'T WANT TO RUN, SO IT TAKES THAT REQUIREMENT

OUT OF THE LAW.

MR. SLATER: RIGHT, SO -- SO THE DECLINATION PORTION

IS ELIMINATED; IS THAT CORRECT?

MR. EPSTEIN: SO YES, YOU CAN'T -- YOU CAN'T DECIDE

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO RUN, EXACTLY.

MR. SLATER: OKAY, WHICH WAS THE INTENT OF THE

ORIGINAL BILL, I BELIEVE, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY.

MR. EPSTEIN: I MEAN, THERE'S BEEN NUMEROUS

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL OVER THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AND THAT'S ONE OF THE

VERSIONS.

MR. SLATER: UNDERSTOOD. BUT THE -- BUT THE BILL

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

THAT WAS SIGNED INTO -- THE BILL WAS SIGNED INTO LAW, BUT THERE WAS A

PROPOSAL MADE BY THE GOVERNOR, IF I --

MR. EPSTEIN: THAT IS CORRECT.

MR. SLATER: AND SO THE GOVERNOR WAS ASKING AS

PART OF HER APPROVAL TO TAKE AWAY THE DECLINATION PORTION?

MR. EPSTEIN: THAT IS CORRECT.

MR. SLATER: UNDERSTOOD. SO JUST TO MAKE SURE

I'M CLEAR, UNDER THE NEW LAW HOW WOULD A CANDIDATE FOR A COUNTY

COMMITTEE KNOW ABOUT THEIR ABILITY TO DECLINE IF IT'S NO LONGER PART OF

THE NOTIFICATION?

MR. EPSTEIN: SO THERE ARE OTHER PROVISIONS IN THE

LAW THAT EXISTED BEFORE THIS BILL WAS PASSED AND SIGNED THAT ALLOW

PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING FOR COUNTY COMMITTEE TO DECLINE THE

NOMINATION. THIS REQUIRES THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO SEND AN ACTUAL

PHYSICAL NOTICE, WHICH THEY CURRENTLY DON'T DO, SO PEOPLE WILL HAVE

AFFIRMATIVE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY RUNNING.

MR. SLATER: SO IS THERE REALLY ANY DIFFERENCE FROM

THE LAST CYCLE VERSUS THE NEW -- THE COMING CYCLE WITH THIS NEW CHAPTER

AMENDMENT IN PLACE?

MR. EPSTEIN: YES. THE DIFFERENCE WILL BE THAT

PEOPLE WILL ACTUALLY KNOW THAT THEY'RE RUNNING WHEN THEY'RE RUNNING,

VERSUS IN THE LAST CYCLE, PEOPLE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THEY WERE RUNNING

UNTIL AFTER THEY WERE ELECTED, OR AFTER A YEAR LATER WHEN THEY WERE

REQUIRED TO SHOW UP AT A MEETING.

MR. SLATER: UNDERSTOOD. SO THERE WAS NO

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

REQUIREMENT THAT THEY EVEN BE NOTIFIED BY THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS THAT

THEY WERE PUT ON THE COUNTY COMMITTEE.

MR. EPSTEIN: EXACTLY. YOU DON'T HAVE TO AFFIRM

THAT YOU'RE BEING PUT ON THE COUNTY COMMITTEE, THERE'S NO NOTE --

THERE'S NO NOTIFICATION, PRIOR NOTIFICATION, AND THERE'S NO NOTIFICATION

AFTERWARDS THAT YOU'RE BEING NOMINATED.

MR. SLATER: AND SO THIS ONLY APPLIES TO NEW

YORK CITY THOUGH, CORRECT?

MR. EPSTEIN: CORRECT.

MR. SLATER: AND IS THAT BECAUSE THAT LACK OF

NOTIFICATION ONLY EXISTS IN NEW YORK CITY?

MR. EPSTEIN: THAT LACK OF NOTIFICATION WAS A

PROBLEM IN NEW YORK CITY.

MR. SLATER: UNDERSTOOD. SO THIS BILL ONLY APPLIES

TO NEW YORK CITY, SO HOW WOULD -- AND I KNOW YOU MENTIONED IT

EARLIER, SO IF YOU CAN JUST PROVIDE ME A LITTLE MORE SPECIFICITY. SO IF

SOMEBODY RECEIVES ONE OF THOSE CARDS, OR NOTIFICATION, THAT THEY WERE

ADDED TO COUNTY COMMITTEE IN NEW YORK CITY --

MR. EPSTEIN: RIGHT.

MR. SLATER: -- HOW WOULD THEY GO ABOUT

REMOVING THEMSELVES?

MR. EPSTEIN: HOW DO THEY GO ABOUT WHAT?

MR. SLATER: REMOVING THEMSELVES IF THEY DO NOT

WANT TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE.

MR. EPSTEIN: YEAH, SO IF THEY DIDN'T DO IT DURING

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

THE DECLINATION PERIOD, THEY COULD AFTER THE ELECTION DECIDE THAT THEY

DON'T WANT TO BE IN THAT POSITION AND WITHDRAW THEIR CANDIDACY AND

DECLINE IT THEN.

MR. SLATER: OKAY. AND SO JUST TO MAKE SURE I

UNDERSTAND, YOU FEEL THAT THIS FIXES A PROBLEM, RIGHT, THE PROBLEM BEING

THE NOTIFICATION.

MR. EPSTEIN: YEAH, THIS FIXES A PROBLEM THAT

PEOPLE DON'T KNOW AND THAT WE'VE SEEN NUMEROUS ARTICLES OVER THE LAST

FIVE YEARS WHERE DEAD PEOPLE HAD BEEN NOMINATED FOR COUNTY

COMMITTEE, OR PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE RUNNING OR HAD MOVED OUT

OF THE DISTRICT. THIS THEN PROVIDES THE NOTICE AND ALLOWS PEOPLE TO

HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT THEM BEING ON THE BALLOT AND BEING ABLE TO

THEN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

MR. SLATER: UNDERSTOOD, UNDERSTOOD. WELL, I

REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING SOME CLARITY TO THE -- TO THE

LEGISLATION BEFORE US, AND I APPRECIATE YOU SPENDING SOME TIME WITH

ME TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MR. EPSTEIN: THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 180TH

DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE

THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

PAGE 10, RULES REPORT NO. 77, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A01015, RULES REPORT

NO. 77, JACOBSON. AN ACT TO AMEND THE ELECTION LAW, IN RELATION TO

PERMITTING CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE TO BE EMPLOYEES OF A BOARD OF

ELECTIONS WITH PRIOR AUTHORIZATION AND A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE ELECTION

COMMISSIONERS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON A MOTION BY MR.

JACOBSON, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS

ADVANCED.

AN EXPLANATION HAS BEEN REQUESTED, MR. JACOBSON.

MR. JACOBSON: THIS IS A CHAPTER AMENDMENT ON A

BILL -- WHOOPS, SORRY ABOUT THAT. THIS IS A CHAPTER AMENDMENT OF A BILL

WHICH WE PASSED LAST YEAR REGULATING CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AT THE BOARDS

OF ELECTIONS. AND THIS CHAPTER AMENDMENT CHANGES THE -- SLIGHTLY THE

REQUIREMENT THAT IF SOMEBODY WORKS FOR THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND IS

RUNNING FOR AN OFFICE WITHIN THAT COUNTY THAT THE PERSON WORKS FOR, THAT

PERSON WOULD HAVE TO TAKE AN UNPAID LEAVE OF ABSENCE. AND WHAT HAS

HAPPENED WITH THE AMENDMENT IS THAT THERE CAN BE A WAIVER TO THAT

REQUIREMENT IF BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE COMMISSIONERS IN THAT COUNTY,

WHICH USUALLY MEANS BOTH THE DEMOCRATS -- DEMOCRATIC

COMMISSIONER AND A REPUBLICAN COMMISSIONER, THEN THE PERSON CAN

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

RECEIVE A WAIVER PROVIDED THAT PERSON IS -- EXCUSE ME, PROVIDED THAT

PERSON FOLLOWS THE RULES AND REGULATIONS AND -- OF THE STATE BOARD AND

THAT THE PERSON DOES NOT WORK DIRECTLY ON ANYTHING RELATED TO THAT

PERSON'S CANDIDACY. THE BILL ALSO ADDS A REQUIREMENT FOR THE STATE

BOARD TO PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS SAYING WHAT AND HOW THE

EMPLOYEE MUST FOLLOW.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. SLATER.

MR. SLATER: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. WILL

THE SPONSOR YIELD FOR A HANDFUL OF QUESTIONS?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MR. JACOBSON: YES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MR. SLATER: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO HOW DOES

ALLOWING BOE STAFF RUN FOR OFFICE COMPORT WITH THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF

THIS LEGISLATION?

MR. JACOBSON: WELL, THE ORIGINAL BILL SAID THAT

YOU WOULD AUTOMATICALLY HAVE TO TAKE A LEAVE OF ABSENCE. THIS BILL

ALLOWS A WAIVER TO HAPPEN UNDER CERTAIN -- CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. AND

THE AUTHORIZATION TO ALLOW SUCH A WAIVER HAS TO COME FIRST. YOU CAN'T

STAY THERE AND SAY, OH, I NEED A WAIVER NOW. SO THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS.

MR. SLATER: UNDERSTOOD. AND THIS APPLIES TO ALL

BOARD OF ELECTIONS EMPLOYEES.

MR. JACOBSON: CORRECT.

MR. SLATER: INCLUDING POLL WORKERS?

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

MR. JACOBSON: YES, IF -- IF THAT PERSON WAS

RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

MR. SLATER: OKAY. SO POLL WORKERS, AS WELL. AND

SO THE CURE FOR THE CANDIDATE IS BEFORE THEY BECOME AN OFFICIAL

CANDIDATE THEY NEED AUTHORIZATION BY A MAJORITY OF COMMISSIONERS,

CORRECT?

MR. JACOBSON: CORRECT.

MR. SLATER: AND SO BY MAJORITY OF

COMMISSIONERS, YOU KNOW, I LIVE IN WESTCHESTER, THERE ARE ONLY TWO.

MR. JACOBSON: CORRECT.

MR. SLATER: SO BOTH COMMISSIONERS HAVE TO

AGREE TO PROVIDE THAT WAIVER; IS THAT ACCURATE?

MR. JACOBSON: THAT'S ACCURATE.

MR. SLATER: OKAY. AND THEN IN REGARDS TO THE

STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS FRAMEWORK, DOES IT PROVIDE THE -- DOES THE

BILL PROVIDE FRAMEWORK FOR THE STATE BOARD TO ADOPT THE NECESSARY

RULES FOR THIS TO BE IMPLEMENTED?

MR. JACOBSON: YES, IT DOES.

MR. SLATER: IT DOES. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THEM TO ME,

PLEASE?

MR. JACOBSON: SURE. WELL, IT SAYS - AND I'LL READ

IT TO YOU, WHICH I'M SURE YOU HAVE READ - THE STATE BOARD SHALL

PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS RELATING TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT

MAY PERMIT A BOARD OF ELECTIONS -- MAY PERMIT A BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO

AUTHORIZE AN EMPLOYEE WHO IS ALSO A CANDIDATE FOR AN OFFICE WHO HAS

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

AN ELECTION OVERSEEN BY THE BOARD AT WHICH THEY ARE EMPLOYED TO

REMAIN EMPLOYED, PROVIDED THAT SUCH EMPLOYEE BE RESTRICTED FROM

WORKING ON MATTERS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE ELECTION IN THE JURISDICTION

IN WHICH THE EMPLOYEE IS A CANDIDATE, AND ANY OTHER RESTRICTIONS AS SET

FORTH BY THE STATE BOARD RULES AND REGULATIONS.

MR. SLATER: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NOW, I DIDN'T

HEAR ABOUT A TIME FRAME FOR THE STATE BOARD TO PROMULGATE THOSE RULES

AND REGULATIONS.

(PAUSE)

MR. JACOBSON: WELL, THE BILL, AS I'M SURE YOU

READ THE ORIGINAL BILL AND NOW THIS IS CHAPTER AMENDMENT TO IT, TAKES

EFFECT ONE YEAR LATER. SO BY THAT TIME, THE BOARD SHOULD DO THAT.

MR. SLATER: SO THE BILL TAKES EFFECT IN A YEAR, SO

THIS ELECTION CYCLE WHERE WE HAVE LOCAL ELECTIONS ALL OVER NEW YORK

STATE, IT WOULD NOT APPLY.

MR. JACOBSON: THAT'S RIGHT.

MR. SLATER: OKAY.

MR. JACOBSON: WE WOULD HOPE THAT THE

EMPLOYEES WOULD DO THE RIGHT THING, BUT THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE NEW

LAW.

MR. SLATER: UNDERSTOOD. AND FORGIVE ME, IS

THERE AN APPEAL PROCESS IF A CANDIDATE REQUESTS A WAIVER AND THERE'S A

SPLIT AMONGST THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS COMMISSIONERS?

MR. JACOBSON: NO.

MR. SLATER: THERE IS NO APPEAL PROCESS.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

MR. JACOBSON: THERE'S NO APPEAL PROCESS.

YOU'RE NOT ENTITLED TO A WAIVER. YOU'RE ENTITLED TO WORK AT THE BOARD

UNTIL YOU BECOME A CANDIDATE AND THEN YOU HAVE TO TAKE A LEAVE OF

ABSENCE AS WAS SHOWN ORIGINALLY. IF THERE'S A PRIMARY, YOU HAVE TO DO

IT RIGHT AWAY; IF THERE'S NO PRIMARY, IT'S 90 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION.

MR. SLATER: DOES THE -- DOES THE FRAMEWORK THAT

THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS HAS TO PROMULGATE, DOES THAT PROVIDE ANY

GUIDANCE ABOUT ALLOWING A SCENARIO IN WHICH A CANDIDATE CAN WORK

UNTIL, I DON'T KNOW, OCTOBER 15TH AND THEN HAVE A LEAVE OF ABSENCE?

MR. JACOBSON: NO. NO, THAT WOULD NOT BE

ALLOWED BECAUSE THAT PART OF THE -- WHEN THE PERSON HAS TO LEAVE WAS

NOT CHANGED.

MR. SLATER: SO THEN IT'S REALLY NOT A WAIVER

BECAUSE THEY'RE STILL AN EMPLOYEE OF THE BOARD THEN.

MR. JACOBSON: NO. IF -- IF THE TWO

COMMISSIONERS, SAY IN PUTNAM COUNTY OR WESTCHESTER WHERE THERE ARE

TWO, IF THEY AGREE, THEN THE PERSON WOULD GET A WAIVER AND CAN STAY

THERE, PROVIDED THEY DO NOT WORK ON ANYTHING DIRECTLY RELATED TO THEIR

RACE, THEIR POLITICAL CAMPAIGN RACE, AND PROVIDED THAT THEY FOLLOW ANY

OTHER RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT THE STATE BOARD DEVELOPS.

MR. SLATER: SO IF THE STATE BOARD SAYS THAT THE

COMMISSIONERS CAN REQUIRE A LEAVE OF ABSENCE, THAT WOULD BE

ALLOWED?

MR. JACOBSON: COULD YOU REPEAT THAT AGAIN? I'M

NOT SURE WHAT YOU'RE ASKING.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

MR. SLATER: AMONGST THE REGULATIONS THAT THE

BOARD OF ELECTIONS IS GOING TO PROMULGATE THAT ALLOWS FOR THE WAIVER,

THEY COULD, IN THEORY, PROVIDE DISCRETION THAT ALLOWS FOR THE

COMMISSIONERS TO REQUIRE THE SAME LEAVE OF ABSENCE THAT YOU WERE

REQUESTING EARLIER. THERE'S NOTHING THAT STOPS THE STATE BOARD FROM

PROMULGATING A REGULATION LIKE THAT, CORRECT, WITHIN THE ONE-YEAR TIME

FRAME.

MR. JACOBSON: NO. WHAT IT IS SIMPLY IS THAT THE

TWO COMMISSIONERS AGREE, THEY THEN GET TO FOLLOW -- THEY THEN -- IF

THEY AGREE ON THE WAIVER, THEN THE EMPLOYEE/CANDIDATE IS ALLOWED TO

STAY THERE WORKING AT THE BOARD PROVIDED THEY DO NOT WORK DIRECTLY ON

ANYTHING AFFECTING THEIR RACE, AND THEN ANY OTHER THING ELSE THAT THE

BOARD -- THE STATE BOARD DETERMINES IS NECESSARY.

MR. SLATER: DO YOU NEED A WAIVER FOR A PRIMARY

ELECTION AND THEN ANOTHER WAIVER FOR A GENERAL, OR IS THE ONE WAIVER

GOOD FOR ALL ELECTIONS?

MR. JACOBSON: NO, I THINK THE ONE WAIVER WOULD

BE SUFFICIENT.

MR. SLATER: AND IS THIS THE SAME PROCESS FOR

SPECIAL ELECTIONS?

MR. JACOBSON: YES.

MR. SLATER: AND IS -- THERE'S NO TIMELINE THAT THE

CANDIDATE HAS TO REQUEST THAT WAIVER FOR -- IN A SPECIAL ELECTION

SCENARIO SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF THOSE SHORTENED TIME FRAMES IN AN

ELECTION CALENDAR?

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

MR. JACOBSON: RIGHT. LOOK, THE PURPOSE IS IS

WE'RE RESTORING MORE CONFIDENCE IN OUR ELECTORAL PROCESS. SO THE

WHOLE IDEA IS THAT IF YOU'RE WORKING AT THE BOARD, UNLESS YOU GET THIS

SPECIAL WAIVER, YOU REALLY SHOULDN'T BE WORKING THERE WHEN YOU'RE

RUNNING FOR OFFICE AT THE SAME TIME.

MR. SLATER: NO, I UNDERSTAND, I JUST WANT TO MAKE

SURE THAT WE'RE CLEAR FOR PEOPLE IN NEW YORK STATE IF THEY WANT TO RUN

FOR OFFICE AND THEY'RE EMPLOYEES OF THE BOARD THAT THEY UNDERSTAND

WHAT WE'RE ASKING OF THEM MOVING FORWARD.

MR. JACOBSON: AND I'M SURE THEY WILL READ THIS

MANY TIMES OVER, AND ALSO THE NEW RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT WILL BE

ESTABLISHED BY THE STATE BOARD.

MR. SLATER: THANK YOU. AND BY THE WAY, DOES

THE -- DOES IT REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD, WHEN THEY PROMULGATE THEIR RULES

AND REGS, ARE THEY REQUIRED -- THEY'RE REQUIRED TO NOTIFY AND SHARE THOSE

REGS WITH THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS OF EACH COUNTY, CORRECT?

MR. JACOBSON: THE STATE BOARD IS REQUIRED TO

HAVE THE -- TO PROMULGATE THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS.

MR. SLATER: RIGHT.

MR. JACOBSON: AS ANY OTHER RULES AND

REGULATIONS.

MR. SLATER: WELL, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE

CLEAR BECAUSE WHILE EMPLOYEES AT THE STATE BOARD MAY BE ABLE TO READ

THE LEGISLATION THAT YOU'VE PROPOSED, REGULATIONS THAT ARE BEING

CONSIDERED BY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IS A DIFFERENT PROCESS, SO I

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND THAT.

MR. JACOBSON: NO, IT HAS THE WORD "SHALL."

MR. SLATER: OKAY. WELL, I APPRECIATE IT. THANK

YOU SO MUCH FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS.

MR. JACOBSON: SURE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. RA.

MR. RA: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. WILL THE

SPONSOR YIELD?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MR. JACOBSON: YES, I WILL.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MR. RA: CAN YOU JUST CLARIFY, I KNOW THAT THE

LANGUAGE SAYS THEY CAN'T WORK DIRECTLY ON THE ELECTION IN THAT

JURISDICTION, IS THERE ANY OR DO WE EXPECT REGULATORY, LIKE, PROHIBITIONS

ON CERTAIN TITLES THAT ARE MAYBE AT A CERTAIN LEVEL OF THE HIERARCHY THAT

REALLY CAN'T PERFORM THEIR DUTIES WITHOUT BEING INVOLVED WITH THE ENTIRE

GAMUT OF THE ELECTIONS THAT ARE BEING SUPERVISED WITHIN THAT COUNTY?

MR. JACOBSON: NO. IT WOULD APPLY TO ALL

EMPLOYEES.

MR. RA: OKAY. WOULD THAT INCLUDE A

COMMISSIONER?

MR. JACOBSON: YES, INCLUDING THE COMMISSIONER.

MR. RA: IT INCLUDES A COMMISSIONER.

MR. JACOBSON: CORRECT.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

MR. RA: SO BASICALLY THE COMMISSIONER COULD BE A

CANDIDATE AS LONG AS THE OTHER COMMISSIONER SIGNED OFF, BECAUSE

PRESUMABLY THEY WOULD VOTE TO GIVE THEMSELVES A WAIVER, CORRECT?

MR. JACOBSON: IT COULD HAPPEN.

MR. RA: NOW, MY UNDERSTANDING IS UNDER CURRENT

LAW, COMMISSIONERS CANNOT RUN FOR OFFICE, OR THEY NEED TO TAKE --

WITHOUT TAKING A LEAVE OF ABSENCE.

MR. JACOBSON: WITHOUT...

MR. RA: WITHOUT TAKING A LEAVE OF ABSENCE.

MR. JACOBSON: I BELIEVE THAT'S TRUE.

MR. RA: OKAY.

MR. JACOBSON: I MEAN, LET'S PUT IT THIS WAY, I

WOULD ASSUME CONSIDERING ALL THE DUTIES THAT A COMMISSIONER HAS, THEY

WOULD BE HARD PUT TO RUN AND ALSO DEAL WITH THE CONFLICTS.

MR. RA: I'M SORRY, CAN YOU REPEAT THAT? IT'S A LITTLE

NOISY BACK HERE.

MR. JACOBSON: SAY IT AGAIN? I'M SORRY.

MR. RA: CAN YOU REPEAT WHAT YOU JUST SAID, IT'S A

LITTLE NOISY BACK HERE.

MR. JACOBSON: I DIDN'T HEAR IT.

MR. RA: CAN YOU REPEAT THE LAST STATEMENT YOU

MADE, IT'S NOISY BACK HERE; I DIDN'T HEAR IT.

MR. JACOBSON: WELL, I SAID THAT THE

COMMISSIONERS WOULD HAVE DIFFICULTY PERFORMING ALL THEIR OBLIGATIONS

WHEN THEY'RE WORKING THERE WHILE ALSO A CANDIDATE BECAUSE SO MANY

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

THINGS COME BEFORE EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING THE COMMISSIONER, THAT

WOULD BE IN CONFLICT, AND SO THAT'S WHAT I SAID.

MR. RA: I WOULD CERTAINLY AGREE, BUT I MEAN IF I'M

UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY, UNDER THIS, THAT COMMISSIONER JUST BASICALLY

NEEDS TO GET THE OTHER COMMISSIONER'S SIGN OFF BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING

TO -- THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE TO GIVE THEMSELVES A WAIVER AND THEY WOULD

NEED THE OTHER COMMISSIONER TO SAY YES, AND THEN THEY HAVE A WAIVER;

AM I WRONG?

MR. JACOBSON: YES, BUT THEY WOULD ALSO BE

FOLLOWING THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE STATE BOARD.

MR. RA: OKAY. NOW, I KNOW IT SAYS PRIOR TO

RUNNING FOR OFFICE, SO WOULD THE FAILURE TO DO THIS, TO GET THIS WAIVER,

BE A INVALIDATING FACTOR OF PETITIONS THAT ARE FILED FOR -- FOR A CANDIDATE?

MR. JACOBSON: NO. THE PETITIONS WOULD STILL BE

VALID IF THEY WERE VALID, BUT THEN ONCE THEY'RE VALID AND THERE'S NO

WAIVER, THE --

MR. RA: WELL, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN? THE PETITIONS

ARE NOW VALID, THERE'S NO WAIVER; WHAT HAPPENS?

MR. JACOBSON: THE EMPLOYEE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE

AN UNPAID LEAVE OF ABSENCE.

MR. RA: OKAY. NOW, WHAT HAPPENS IF THAT -- THAT

DOESN'T OCCUR OR...

MR. JACOBSON: THEN THE STATE BOARD OR THE OTHER

COMMISSIONER, OR ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS COULD BRING AN ACTION TO

REMOVE THAT PERSON.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

MR. RA: TO REMOVE THAT PERSON AS AN EMPLOYEE, NOT

AS A CANDIDATE, CORRECT?

MR. JACOBSON: YES.

MR. RA: OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM

SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MR. DURSO.

MR. DURSO: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. WOULD

THE SPONSOR YIELD FOR A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MR. JACOBSON: SURE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MR. DURSO: THANK YOU, SIR; THANK YOU, MADAM

SPEAKER. SO JUST TO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT, YOU HAD SAID THAT IF A SPECIAL

ELECTION OCCURS, OR ANY ELECTION OCCURS, THEY HAVE 90 DAYS, CORRECT, TO

APPLY FOR THIS WAIVER?

MR. JACOBSON: NO. THEY HAVE TO TAKE A LEAVE OF

ABSENCE 90 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION.

MR. DURSO: OR GET THE WAIVER, CORRECT?

MR. JACOBSON: OR GET THE WAIVER.

MR. DURSO: NOW, WHEN YOU APPLY FOR THE WAIVER,

IS THERE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME PERIOD THAT THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE

TO ANSWER YOU? IN OTHER WORDS, IF I SAY, HEY, I'M GOING TO RUN FOR

OFFICE, I HAVE 105 DAYS BUT THE COMMISSIONERS DECIDE TO NOT ANSWER

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

ME FOR 30 DAYS. IS THERE ANY TIME PERIOD, ANY TIME FRAME FROM THE

TIME YOU APPLY FOR THE WAIVER TO WHEN THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE TO

GIVE YOU AN ANSWER?

MR. JACOBSON: NO, BUT OBVIOUSLY --

MR. DURSO: WHY NOT?

MR. JACOBSON: NO, BUT OBVIOUSLY IF ONE

COMMISSIONER DOESN'T GIVE YOU AN ANSWER, THAT PERSON'S -- THAT

COMMISSIONER IS NOT AGREEING TO IT AND I HAVE A FEELING THAT THE

COMMISSIONER THAT DOESN'T AGREE TO IT WOULD SAY, I'M NOT AGREEING TO

THAT.

MR. DURSO: BUT HOW DO WE PUT A TIME FRAME IN FOR

WHEN YOU HAVE TO APPLY, BUT THERE'S NO TIME FRAME FOR WHEN THEY HAVE

TO ANSWER?

MR. JACOBSON: THAT'S CORRECT.

MR. DURSO: WHY IS THAT? I KNOW IT'S CORRECT, I'M

JUST ASKING WHY.

MR. JACOBSON: WE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS NECESSARY.

WE KNOW THAT IF -- IF THE COMMISSIONER -- IF ONE COMMISSIONER -- IF AN

EMPLOYEE OF COMMISSIONER A --

MR. DURSO: MM-HMM.

MR. JACOBSON: -- OF A'S PARTY IS --

MR. DURSO: RIGHT.

MR. JACOBSON: -- RUNNING, I GUARANTEE YOU THAT

THAT COMMISSIONER WILL TALK TO COMMISSIONER B AND SAY, HEY, WE

WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A WAIVER.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

MR. DURSO: WHAT IF COMMISSIONER A IS OUT SICK

FOR A MONTH?

MR. JACOBSON: THEN THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER

TAKES THE -- HAS THE SAME DUTIES AS THE COMMISSIONER WHEN THE

COMMISSIONER IS NOT THERE.

MR. DURSO: OKAY. SO IF I'M RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND

I SEND THE COMMISSIONER AN E-MAIL REQUESTING THIS WAIVER, BUT THEY

DON'T RECEIVE IT FOR A MONTH AND THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER JUST SITS

THERE AND GOES, I DIDN'T GET IT, THERE'S REALLY NO -- THERE'S NO RULES AND

REGULATIONS SET OTHER THAN WHAT THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, YOU'RE LEAVING

TO THEM TO SET FOR THE NEXT YEAR, CORRECT?

MR. JACOBSON: THE BOARD OF ELECTION IS GOING TO

-- WILL PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS. BUT THE MAIN THING IS THIS,

YOU HAVE A CANDIDATE --

MR. DURSO: RIGHT.

MR. JACOBSON: -- WHO IS ANXIOUS TO GET A

WAIVER --

MR. DURSO: SURE.

MR. JACOBSON: -- RIGHT? AND SAYS TO THAT

CANDIDATE, THAT CANDIDATE'S PARTY COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER B SAYS,

HEY, DID I GET THE WAIVER? WE DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING FROM

COMMISSIONER A; I WILL SPEAK TO THEM, WE SPEAK ALL THE TIME. AND

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS. SO I HAVE A FEELING THAT HE OR SHE, COMMISSIONER

B, WILL WALK MAYBE 25 STEPS OR SO OVER TO COMMISSIONER A'S OFFICE

AND SAY, HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

MR. DURSO: I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, SIR,

BUT IT'S A LOT OF "I THINK" AND "I FEEL" AS OPPOSED TO WHAT'S WRITTEN IN

THE LEGISLATION. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT YOU'RE LEAVING A YEAR FOR

THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO COME UP WITH RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT

AREN'T IN THIS LEGISLATION, AND THEN WE'RE HOPING THAT THE

COMMISSIONERS WILL GET BACK TO THEM IN TIME.

MR. JACOBSON: FIRST --

MR. DURSO: I WAS JUST SAYING THERE'S NO RULES SET IN

HERE OF HOW LONG THEY HAVE TO ANSWER, CORRECT?

MR. JACOBSON: LOOK, YOU'RE NOT ENTITLED TO A

WAIVER.

MR. DURSO: NO, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

MR. JACOBSON: OKAY. SO -- AND THE STATE BOARD

WILL BE HAVING RULES AND REGULATIONS. BUT ON A PRACTICAL MATTER, AND

I'M SURE YOU HAVE TALKED TO YOUR COMMISSIONER IN YOUR PARTY.

MR. DURSO: I HAVE NOT, BUT...

MR. JACOBSON: EVER? WELL, I'M SURE ON SOME

THINGS MAYBE, BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY HAVE TO -- THE TWO

COMMISSIONERS WOULD HAVE TO AGREE ON A LOT OF THINGS IN ORDER THAT THE

COUNTY BOARD RUNS PROPERLY. SO I AM SURE THAT WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF A

-- IF ONE PARTY'S CANDIDATE REQUESTS A WAIVER, THE -- THAT PARTY'S

COMMISSIONER WILL TALK TO THAT AND SAY, HEY, ARE YOU GOING TO GIVE ME

THE WAIVER OR NOT, THAT'S ALL.

MR. DURSO: I UNDERSTAND YOUR --

MR. JACOBSON: AND IF THEY DON'T DO THAT, I THINK

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

THAT PARTY SHOULD GET A DIFFERENT COMMISSIONER.

MR. DURSO: I AGREE, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SEEN

THAT ACTUALLY WRITTEN DOWN AS OPPOSED TO "I HOPE," "I GUESS," AND "I

THINK," WHICH IS A LOT OF WHAT THIS BILL IS.

MR. JACOBSON: I -- I HAVE CONFIDENCE WITH

SOMETHING OF --

MR. DURSO: I'M GLAD YOU DO.

MR. JACOBSON: WELL, I HAVE A -- I THINK IT'S A HIGH

PRIORITY FOR THAT PARTY'S COMMISSIONER TO TRY TO GET A WAIVER.

MR. DURSO: I JUST -- I UNDERSTAND, I JUST WISH IT WAS

A PRIORITY ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY TO PUT IN THE BILL.

MR. JACOBSON: WELL...

MR. DURSO: EH, WE CAN'T HAVE EVERYTHING.

MR. JACOBSON: IT'S TRUE; YOU'RE RIGHT.

MR. DURSO: I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, SIR, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 365TH

DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: A PARTY VOTE HAS

BEEN REQUESTED.

MS. WALSH.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. THE

MINORITY CONFERENCE WILL GENERALLY BE IN THE NEGATIVE ON THIS PIECE OF

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

LEGISLATION, BUT IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THEY

MAY CERTAINLY DO SO AT THEIR DESKS. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MS. SOLAGES.

MS. SOLAGES: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. THE

MAJORITY CONFERENCE WILL BE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THOSE WHO WISH TO

VOTE IN THE NEGATIVE CAN DO SO AT THIS TIME.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

THE CLERK WILL RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE

THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

PAGE 10, RULES REPORT NO. 87, THE CLERK WILL READ.

THE CLERK: SENATE NO. S00754, RULES REPORT NO.

87, SENATOR MARTINEZ (O'PHARROW--A02746). AN ACT TO AMEND THE

TRANSPORTATION LAW, IN RELATION TO THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE REPUBLIC

AIRPORT COMMISSION.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: AN EXPLANATION HAS

BEEN REQUESTED, MR. O'PHARROW.

MR. O'PHARROW: GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM

SPEAKER. THIS IS MY FIRST BILL, SO IT'S AN HONOR. THIS BILL IS AN

AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 528 OF THE LAWS OF 2024 TO THE APPOINTMENTS

OF THE REPUBLIC AIRPORT COMMISSION. THIS REQUIRES THE ASSEMBLY AND

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

THE SENATE, BOTH HOUSES, TO SUBMIT TO THE GOVERNOR A LIST OF THREE

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS FOR THEIR -- EACH OF THEIR RESPECTIVE --

FOUR RESPECTIVE APPOINTMENTS. THE GOVERNOR WILL SELECT ONE PERSON

FROM EACH OF THE LIST OF THREE FOR THE RESPECTIVE APPOINTMENTS.

THE ORIGINAL BILL WILL BE REMOVED -- THE ORIGINAL,

EXCUSE ME, THE ORIGINAL BILL REMOVED THIS LIST OF REQUIREMENTS FOR EACH

APPOINTEE, THE CHAPTER AMENDMENT ADDS IT BACK IN.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. GANDOLFO.

MR. GANDOLFO: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.

WOULD THE SPONSOR PLEASE YIELD FOR A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WILL THE SPONSOR

YIELD?

MR. O'PHARROW: YES, I YIELD.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE SPONSOR YIELDS.

MR. GANDOLFO: THANK YOU, AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE

YOUR FIRST BILL HERE, BUT IT HASN'T PASSED YET --

(LAUGHTER)

-- IT MIGHT GO DOWN, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I APPRECIATE IT

AND I KNOW YOU WEREN'T HERE WHEN THE BILL-IN-CHIEF PASSED, BUT CAN

YOU JUST EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE REPUBLIC AIRPORT COMMISSION

AND WHY WE -- WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF

RECOMMENDATIONS MADE TO THE GOVERNOR FOR THE APPOINTMENTS?

MR. O'PHARROW: WELL, YES, AS YOU EXPLAINED I

WASN'T HERE LAST YEAR WHEN IT PASSED, THE BILL PASSED. I'M CONFIDENT IT

WILL PASS, BUT THE REASON BEING IS BECAUSE WE WANT TO LOOK AT A LARGER

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

POOL. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE MORE EFFICIENT AND MAKE SURE WE

GET ADDED VALUE BY APPLYING IT AND GETTING MORE RECOMMENDATIONS AS

OPPOSED TO ONE. SO A LARGER POOL WILL GIVE US A LARGER -- A LOT OF BETTER

CANDIDATES FROM THAT POOL.

MR. GANDOLFO: AND I AGREE, IT'S GOOD TO EXPAND

THE POOL, BUT ONE THING THAT IT IS NOT EXPANDED TO HERE IS TO INCLUDE ANY

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE REPUBLICAN MINORITY HERE. IS THERE A

REASON WHY THAT WASN'T INCLUDED IN THIS AMENDMENT?

MR. O'PHARROW: WELL ONCE AGAIN, I WASN'T HERE

LAST YEAR, I JUST GOT ELECTED. BUT JUST LIKE MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES, I

YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU'RE HERE REPRESENTING YOUR

PEOPLE, BUT I THINK YOU HAVE AN OPEN DOOR POLICY WITH THE SPEAKER AND

I THINK IF YOU HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATION YOU CAN DO SO, AND I'M SURE

HE WOULD, YOU KNOW, HONOR THAT.

MR. GANDOLFO: OKAY, THAT'S -- THAT'S GOOD TO

HEAR, MAYBE THAT WILL HAPPEN. SO THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THOSE, I'LL

JUST GO ON THE BILL, PLEASE, FOR A LITTLE BIT, MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON THE BILL.

MR. GANDOLFO: MADAM SPEAKER, IT'S GREAT TO

HEAR THAT THE SPEAKER MIGHT BE OPEN TO SOME REPUBLICAN APPOINTMENTS

TO THIS COMMISSION, THAT IS VERY MUCH WELCOME NEWS, BUT I STILL HAVE

TO POINT OUT THE FACT THAT DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE ARE CHANGING THIS TO

INCLUDE MORE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR, IT DOES NOT INCLUDE

ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE REPUBLICAN MINORITY HERE DESPITE THE

FACT THAT OF THE NINE SENATE DISTRICTS ON LONG ISLAND, SEVEN ARE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

REPRESENTED BY REPUBLICANS, AND OF THE 22 ASSEMBLY SEATS, 13 ARE

REPRESENTED BY REPUBLICANS, THAT'S IN NASSAU AND SUFFOLK COUNTY. I

THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD THING TO INCLUDE SOME INPUT FROM OUR SIDE,

ESPECIALLY WHEN THE MAJORITY OF VOTERS IN THESE TWO COUNTIES ARE VOTING

FOR REPUBLICANS AT THE MOMENT. I THINK REFUSING TO ADD REPUBLICAN

RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR HERE ISN'T NECESSARILY IN THE BEST

INTEREST OF REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY, AND FOR A CHAMBER AND FOR A

STATE LEGISLATURE THAT TALKS SO MUCH ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF

REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY, I JUST THOUGHT WE COULD DO A LITTLE BETTER.

SO I WILL BE VOTING NO. THIS SHOULD HAVE SOME INPUT

FROM REPUBLICANS WHICH ARE THE MAJORITY PARTY IN BOTH COUNTIES, BUT I

APPRECIATE MY COLLEAGUE HERE FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS AND HAPPY

TO SEE HIS FIRST BILL ON THE FLOOR HERE. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: A PARTY VOTE HAS

BEEN REQUESTED.

MS. WALSH.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM

SPEAKER. SO THE MINORITY CONFERENCE FOR THE REASONS STATED DURING THE

DEBATE WILL BE IN THE NEGATIVE ON THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION, BUT IF WE DO

HAVE ANY EXCEPTIONS, THEY'RE WELCOME TO VOTE FROM THEIR SEAT. THANK

YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

MS. SOLAGES.

MS. SOLAGES: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. THE

MAJORITY CONFERENCE WILL BE VOTING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. THOSE WHO

WISH TO VOTE IN THE NEGATIVE CAN DO SO NOW.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

THE CLERK WILL RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE

THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

CONGRATULATIONS, MR. O'PHARROW, ON YOUR FIRST BILL.

(APPLAUSE)

ON CONSENT, PAGE 4, CALENDAR NO. 22, THE CLERK WILL

READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY BILL NO. A00029, CALENDAR

NO. 22, MCDONALD, BENDETT, BUTTENSCHON. AN ACT TO AMEND THE STATE

LAW, IN RELATION TO DESIGNATING THE STATE OF NEW YORK A PURPLE HEART

STATE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT JANUARY 1ST.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. BENDETT TO

EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

MR. BENDETT: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE

TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE SPONSOR OF THE BILL.

THANK YOU FOR PUTTING FORTH THIS LEGISLATION HONORING ALL OF OUR PURPLE

HEART RECIPIENTS AND DESIGNATING OUR STATE AS A PURPLE HEART STATE. I'D

ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE SENATE SPONSOR, SENATOR ASHBY, AS WELL.

I'D LIKE TO TELL EVERYBODY THAT THE FIRST PURPLE HEART

RECIPIENT WAS FROM NEW YORK STATE, AS WELL AS THE PURPLE HEART

MUSEUM, THE HALL OF HEROES IS IN NEW WINDSOR IN ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

NO. 99, AND MY GRANDFATHER, JULIUS BENDETT, WAS ALSO EARNED A PURPLE

HEART AFTER HE WAS SHOT IN WORLD WAR II. MOST PEOPLE THINK YOU'D

PROBABLY GET SENT HOME AFTER YOU'RE SHOT, BUT NOT HIM. THEY SENT HIM

OVER TO PARIS, FRANCE AND THEY TAUGHT HIM HOW TO MAKE TEETH AND THAT

ENDED UP BEING HIS CAREER. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE VETERANS AND I

WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE RECIPIENTS OF THE PURPLE HEART, AND I ESPECIALLY

WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE TWO PEOPLE IN THIS CHAMBER THAT HAVE RECEIVED

AND EARNED PURPLE HEARTS, ONE, MY COLLEAGUE TO MY LEFT, THANK YOU,

AND AS WELL AS OUR SERGEANT-AT-ARMS, MR. WAYNE JACKSON. THANK YOU,

COLLEAGUES.

(APPLAUSE)

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MR. BENDETT IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

MR. MCDONALD TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

MR. MCDONALD: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER,

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU AND MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR SUPPORT, MY

FRIEND, MR. BENDETT, WHO REALLY BROUGHT THIS BILL TO ME, I APPRECIATE

THAT. PURPLE HEART IS THE OLDEST MILITARY AWARD PRESENTED TO AMERICAN

SERVICE MEMBERS, AND HONORS THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO'VE EITHER

BEEN WOUNDED ON THE BATTLEFIELD OR LOST THEIR LIVES WHILE SERVING OUR

COUNTRY. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 19,000 PURPLE HEART RECIPIENTS

ENROLLED IN THE ROLL OF HONOR DATABASE WHO ARE EITHER CURRENT

RESIDENTS OF NEW YORK STATE, OR NEW YORK STATE WAS THEIR STATE OF

RESIDENCE WHEN THEY SERVED THEIR COUNTRY.

THIS LEGISLATION DESIGNATING NEW YORK STATE AS A

PURPLE HEART STATE REFLECTS THAT NEW YORK, LIKE OTHER STATES, SUPPORTS

VETERANS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED IN ACTION.

NEW YORK STATE IS AN EXCELLENT CANDIDATE TO BE DESIGNATED A PURPLE

HEART STATE BECAUSE OF OUR DESIGNATION OF MANY PARTS OF THIS STATE OF

THE PURPLE HEART TRAIL, AS WELL AS MANY -- SEVERAL COUNTIES THROUGHOUT

THE STATE HAVE ALSO JOINED WITH THE DESIGNATION. LOCALLY HERE IN THE

CAPITAL REGION, RENSSELAER COUNTY, ALBANY COUNTY, SARATOGA, AND

COLUMBIA COUNTY, JUST TO NAME A FEW. I WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUES

FOR THEIR SUPPORT, WE THANK OUR VETERANS FOR THEIR SERVICE. THANK YOU,

MADAM SPEAKER.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MR. MCDONALD IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

MR. EACHUS TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

MR. EACHUS: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. THERE

IS NO OFFICIAL LISTING NATIONALLY OF PURPLE HEART AWARDEES AND SO BACK

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

IN 2006, A GROUP OF FOUR GENTLEMEN, ONE BEING STATE SENATOR BILL

LARKIN, WHO IS A REPUBLICAN AND I THANK HIM, PUT -- GOT TOGETHER TO

BUILD WHAT IS CALLED THE PURPLE HEART HALL OF HONOR. AND IT IS THAT,

AND I HAVE SAID THIS TWICE BEFORE, EACH OF THE YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE,

IT IS THAT HALL OF HONOR THAT IS ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT ALL OF THE STORIES OF

PURPLE HEART RECIPIENTS. AND I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES ON THE FLOOR

TO TALK TO THEIR SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, TALK TO THEIR VETERANS'

ORGANIZATIONS, AND ENCOURAGE ANYBODY WHO HAS BEEN OR RECEIVED THE

PURPLE HEART TO TELL THEIR STORY TO THE PURPLE HEART HALL OF HONOR.

AGAIN, IT WAS DEDICATED ON NOVEMBER 10TH, 2006 BY GOVERNOR PATAKI,

AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE

MCDONALD AND BENDETT FOR PUTTING THIS FORWARD. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MR. EACHUS IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

MR. ANGELINO TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

MR. ANGELINO: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. I

HAVE TO TRY AND KEEP THIS LIGHTHEARTED BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A TOUGH SUBJECT,

BUT I THANK MR. MCDONALD AND MR. BENDETT FOR THINKING OF US. ON

BEHALF OF FOUR FRIENDS OF MINE WHO ALSO EARNED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL

BUT NEVER HAD THE CHANCE TO WEAR IT, IF YOU'VE EVER HAD A CONVERSATION

WITH ME, I WEAR MINE AND NEVER FAIL TO MENTION THEIR NAMES, CAPTAIN

J.J. MCKENNA, SERGEANT BRIAN DUNLAP, CORPORAL JOSEPH TREMBLAY, AND

LANCE CORPORAL MICHAEL GLOVER, ALL MARINES, ALL FRIENDS OF MINE WHO

ALSO EARNED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL, BUT NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO

WEAR THEIRS. SO ON THEIR BEHALF, AND ON THE BEHALF OF OUR

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS, MY BROTHER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I VOTE YES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU.

MR. ANGELINO IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

(APPLAUSE)

MR. MAHER TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

MR. MAHER: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE

TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL. I WAS A STAFF MEMBER FOR NEW YORK STATE

SENATOR BILL LARKIN WHEN WE RENAMED THE PURPLE HEART BRIDGE THE --

THE BEAR MOUNTAIN BRIDGE THE PURPLE HEART MEMORIAL VETERANS'

BRIDGE IN -- NEAR THE WEST POINT AREA. AND DURING MY TIME WITH HIM,

WE INTERACTED GREATLY WITH THE PURPLE HEART HALL OF HONOR MUSEUM,

WHICH IS THE ONLY NATIONAL REPOSITORY OF PURPLE HEART MEDALS AND

PURPLE HEART VETERANS IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT HERE IN NEW YORK. AS MY

COLLEAGUE HAD MENTIONED, SENATOR LARKIN WAS PART OF THE GENESIS

GROUP, WHICH INCLUDED GENERAL HUGHES, NEWS REPORTER EVERETT SMITH,

AND A BELOVED VETERAN IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY JOSEPH FARINA.

BETWEEN THEM AND SO MANY OTHERS, THEY WERE ABLE TO CREATE THIS

INSTITUTION WHICH WAS THEN SUPPORTED BY THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITH A

$10 MILLION GRANT WHICH HAS REALLY BECOME A TOURIST DESTINATION AND

ATTRACTION FOR SO MANY PEOPLE. SO THIS IS A VERY APPROPRIATE BILL, I'M

HAPPY TO SUPPORT. I KNOW THAT SENATOR LARKIN AND SO MANY OTHERS

WOULD BE SHINING DOWN ON US AND VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE RECOGNITION OF

OUR PURPLE HEART VETERANS' SERVICE. I VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU. MR.

MARCH IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

MR. CHANG TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

MR. CHANG: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER. AS A

AFGHANISTAN WAR VETERAN FOR NEARLY A YEAR OUT THERE, I DO KNOW MANY

OF THEM WHO GOT INJURED ON THIS SERVICES. I WANT TO THANK THE SPONSORS

FOR THIS BILL. WE DEFINITELY NEED TO RECOGNIZE OUR FELLOW VETERANS,

PURPLE HEART VETERANS, IN THIS GREAT STATE OF NEW YORK, AND I VOTE

AFFIRMATIVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THANK YOU. MR.

CHANG IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE

THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

MS. WALSH FOR THE PURPOSES OF AN INTRODUCTION.

MS. WALSH: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM

SPEAKER, FOR ALLOWING ME TO INTERRUPT THE PROCEEDINGS TO MAKE A BRIEF

INTRODUCTION. EARLIER TODAY, WE HAD THE PLEASURE OF TAKING UP A

RESOLUTION ABOUT BRINGING OUR PARENTS TO WORK DAY, AND WE KNOW THAT

IT'S ALWAYS A REAL PLEASURE WHEN WE HAVE FAMILY JOIN US. TODAY ON

BEHALF OF ASSEMBLYMEMBER DIPIETRO, HE WAS VERY PLEASANTLY SURPRISED

TODAY TO HAVE HIS WIFE, THERESA; HIS DAUGHTER, AVA; AND FAMILY FRIEND

LORI WISKUP COME TO VISIT HIM HERE IN THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE, AND WE

WERE HOPING THAT YOU COULD EXTEND A WARM WELCOME TO THE THREE OF

THEM ON BEHALF OF MR. DIPIETRO.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: OF COURSE.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

ON BEHALF OF MS. WALSH, MR. DIPIETRO, THE SPEAKER

AND ALL THE MEMBERS, WE WELCOME YOU TO THE CHAMBER, EXTEND THE

PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR, AND HOPE YOU ENJOY OUR PROCEEDINGS TODAY.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

(APPLAUSE)

ON CONSENT, PAGE 4, CALENDAR NO. 23, THE CLERK WILL

READ.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A00112, CALENDAR NO.

23, BERGER, LEVENBERG. AN ACT TO AMEND -- TO REPEAL CERTAIN

PROVISIONS OF THE INSURANCE LAW RELATING TO ANTI-ARSON APPLICATIONS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE

THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A00123, CALENDAR NO.

24, CRUZ, JACKSON, DILAN, SIMONE, TAYLOR, RAGA, LEVENBERG,

CUNNINGHAM, CHANDLER-WATERMAN, TAPIA, WALKER, BICHOTTE

HERMELYN, RIVERA, GONZÁLEZ-ROJAS, MEEKS, ROSENTHAL. AN ACT TO

AMEND THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW, IN RELATION TO RULES OF EVIDENCE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

CONCERNING THE ADMISSIBILITY OF EVIDENCE OF A DEFENDANT'S CREATIVE

EXPRESSION.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON A MOTION BY MS.

CRUZ, THE SENATE BILL IS BEFORE THE HOUSE. THE SENATE BILL IS ADVANCED.

THE BILL IS LAID ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A00189, CALENDAR NO.

25, ROSENTHAL, SEAWRIGHT, SIMON, REYES, COOK, RAGA. AN ACT TO

AMEND THE PRIVATE HOUSING FINANCE LAW, IN RELATION TO THE SUPERVISION

OF CERTAIN LIMITED PROFIT HOUSING COMPANIES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE BILL IS LAID

ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A00612, CALENDAR NO.

26, HEVESI, MEEKS, EPSTEIN, SLATER, EACHUS, MAHER. AN ACT TO AMEND

THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW, IN RELATION TO THE APPROPRIATE STAFF/CHILD RATIOS

FOR FAMILY DAY CARE HOMES, GROUP FAMILY DAY CARE HOMES, SCHOOL AGE

DAY CARE PROGRAMS AND DAY CARE CENTERS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE BILL IS LAID

ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A00805, CALENDAR NO.

27, EPSTEIN, RAGA, LEVENBERG, BURDICK, SHIMSKY, REYES, SIMONE,

TAPIA, GONZÁLEZ-ROJAS. AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS LAW, IN

RELATION TO REQUIRING GENDER NEUTRAL BATHROOMS IN STATE-OWNED

BUILDINGS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE BILL IS LAID

ASIDE.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A01351, CALENDAR NO.

28, GONZÁLEZ-ROJAS, BICHOTTE HERMELYN, SEAWRIGHT, REYES, SHIMSKY,

FORREST, LEVENBERG, SEPTIMO. AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW,

IN RELATION TO CERTIFICATION OF FETAL DEATH CERTIFICATES BY A MIDWIFE OR

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE

THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A01365-A, CALENDAR

NO. 29, PAULIN, GIBBS, ZINERMAN, SEPTIMO. AN ACT TO AMEND THE

PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, IN RELATION TO REQUIRING NURSING HOMES TO DESIGNATE

DEDICATED STORAGE SPACES FOR THE STORAGE OF THE BODIES OF DECEASED

PERSONS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE BILL IS LAID

ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A01395, CALENDAR NO.

30, PAULIN, SAYEGH, HEVESI, TAPIA, REYES, DINOWITZ. AN ACT TO AMEND

THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, IN RELATION TO PERMITTING A CLOSE FRIEND TO MAKE

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

AN ANATOMICAL GIFT OF A DECEDENT'S BODY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT JANUARY 1ST.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE

THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A01572, CALENDAR NO.

31, WEPRIN, OTIS. AN ACT TO AMEND THE INSURANCE LAW, IN RELATION TO

REQUIRING THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES TO PROMULGATE

REGULATIONS WHICH PROVIDE STANDARDIZED DEFINITIONS FOR COMMONLY USED

TERMS AND PHRASES IN CERTAIN INSURANCE POLICIES.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE BILL IS LAID

ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A01894, CALENDAR NO.

32, PAULIN. AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 3372 OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW,

RELATING TO PRACTITIONER PATIENT REPORTING.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE

THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A01914, CALENDAR NO.

33, PAULIN. AN ACT TO AMEND THE ARTS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS LAW, IN

RELATION TO RENAMING AGENCY BUILDING 1, AGENCY BUILDING 2, AGENCY

BUILDING 3 AND AGENCY BUILDING 4, LOCATED AT THE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT ON THE 180TH

DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

MR. MCDONALD TO EXPLAIN HIS VOTE.

MR. MCDONALD: THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, FOR

THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE. I WANT TO THANK THE SPONSOR FOR

THIS LEGISLATION. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THIS IS YOUR HOME FOR MOST OF

YOUR WORKPLACE. WE HAVE THE STATE CAPITOL WHICH WE'RE IN, WE HAVE

THE ROBERT ABRAMS ATTORNEY GENERAL'S BUILDING, WE HAVE THE CORNING

TOWER AND THEN WE HAVE AGENCY 1, 2, 3, AND 4 WHICH NO ONE REALLY

UNDERSTANDS WHY THEY'RE CALLED 1, 2, 3, AND 4. IT WAS AN IDEA THAT WAS

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

ON A BLUEPRINT PROBABLY A LONG TIME AGO. SO THE INTENTION OF THIS BILL IS

TO WORK WITH THE EXISTING COMMISSION TO LOOK AT THE TEN MIGHTY RIVERS

THAT FLOW THROUGH NEW YORK STATE AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO

THE GOVERNOR TO RENAME THOSE BUILDINGS REFLECTING AT LEAST FOUR OF

THOSE TEN RIVERS, WHETHER IT'S THE HUDSON OR THE MOHAWK, THE GENESEE,

THE HARLEM RIVER, WHEREVER IT MAY BE. I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA AND, AS

YOU KNOW, THE RIVERS REALLY ARE ABOUT OUR INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION. IT'S

ABOUT WHAT MADE THIS STATE SO STRONG, AND I WANT TO THANK THE SPONSOR

FOR THIS GREAT IDEA. THANK YOU.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MR. MCDONALD IN

THE AFFIRMATIVE.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE

THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A02287, CALENDAR NO.

34, ROSENTHAL. AN ACT TO AMEND THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF THE CITY

OF NEW YORK, IN RELATION TO INCLUDING THE ILLEGAL CONVERSIONS OF

DWELLING UNITS IN THE DEFINITION OF HARASSMENT.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE BILL IS LAID

ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A02431, CALENDAR NO.

35, BRAUNSTEIN. AN ACT TO AMEND THE PUBLIC SERVICE LAW, IN RELATION

TO CLARIFYING HOW CERTAIN NON-BILLING INFORMATION REGARDING THE

DELIVERY OF WATER IS DISCLOSED TO RESIDENTS OF COOPERATIVES,

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

CONDOMINIUMS, OR MULTI-FAMILY DWELLINGS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE BILL IS LAID

ASIDE.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A03028, CALENDAR NO.

36, DILAN. AN ACT TO AMEND THE INSURANCE LAW, IN RELATION TO ALLOWING

DOMESTIC INSURERS TO MAKE CERTAIN RECORDS AVAILABLE BY ELECTRONIC

MEANS.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE

THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

THE CLERK: ASSEMBLY NO. A03267, CALENDAR NO.

37, JONES, SAYEGH. AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE CERTAIN HEALTH CARE

PROFESSIONALS LICENSED TO PRACTICE IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS TO PRACTICE IN

THIS STATE IN CONNECTION WITH AN EVENT SANCTIONED BY THE WORLD

TRIATHLON CORPORATION; AND PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF SUCH PROVISIONS

UPON EXPIRATION THEREOF.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: READ THE LAST

SECTION.

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

THE CLERK: THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: THE CLERK WILL

RECORD THE VOTE.

(THE CLERK RECORDED THE VOTE.)

ARE THERE ANY OTHER VOTES? THE CLERK WILL ANNOUNCE

THE RESULTS.

(THE CLERK ANNOUNCED THE RESULTS.)

THE BILL IS PASSED.

MS. SOLAGES.

MS. SOLAGES: MADAM SPEAKER, DO WE HAVE ANY

FURTHER HOUSEKEEPING OR RESOLUTIONS?

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: WE HAVE NO

HOUSEKEEPING.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF RESOLUTIONS BEFORE THE HOUSE.

WITHOUT OBJECTION, THESE RESOLUTIONS WILL BE TAKEN UP TOGETHER.

ON THE RESOLUTIONS, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING

AYE; OPPOSED, NO. THE RESOLUTIONS ARE ADOPTED.

(WHEREUPON, ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NOS. 152-156

WERE UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED.)

MS. SOLAGES.

MS. SOLAGES: CAN YOU PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO

RECOGNIZE MS. CLARK.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: MS. CLARK FOR THE

PURPOSES OF AN ANNOUNCEMENT.

MS. CLARK: I'M ANNOUNCING THE SHOCKING NEWS

NYS ASSEMBLY MARCH 3, 2025

THAT WE WILL HAVE CONFERENCE IN HEARING ROOM C IMMEDIATELY

FOLLOWING SESSION.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: IMMEDIATE MAJORITY

CONFERENCE IN HEARING ROOM C AFTER THE ADJOURNMENT OF SESSION.

MS. SOLAGES.

MS. SOLAGES: I NOW MOVE THAT THE ASSEMBLY

STANDS ADJOURNED AND THAT WE RECONVENE AT 12:30 P.M., TUESDAY,

MARCH 4TH, TOMORROW BEING A SESSION DAY.

ACTING SPEAKER HUNTER: ON MS. SOLAGES'

MOTION, THE HOUSE STANDS ADJOURNED.

(WHEREUPON, AT 5:27 P.M., THE ASSEMBLY STOOD

ADJOURNED UNTIL TUESDAY, MARCH 4TH AT 12:30 P.M., TUESDAY BEING A

SESSION DAY.)